Relief-valve for heating systems.



No. 800,473. PATENTBD SEPT. 26, 1905. A. MCGONAGLE.

RELIEF VALVE FOR HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED APE.26,1905.

gllliln t I? 16 m If A J {I a I I! l [15 a HIS ATTORNEYS orrrea ARTHUR MCGONAGLE, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

RELIEF-VALVE FOR HEATING SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed April 26, 1905. Serial No. 257,402.

To all w ltont it may concern! Be it known that I, ARTHUR MoGroNAeLn, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of East Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey. have invented certain new, and useful Improvements in Relief- Valves for Heating Systems. of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forminga part thereof. a

My invention relates to improvements in relief-valves for heating systems, and particularly to-valves adapted for employment with steam-heating systems operating under a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

My invention comprises a float-valve for carrying away excess of water, thermostatic or other means permitting the carrying away of air, but closing againstthe passage of steam, and a normally closed valve arranged to be opened under certain conditions, such as will be hereinafter explained.

The object of my invention is to improve and simplify valves of this description and render them more positive in their action and less likely to get out of order.

My invention also consists in certain novel features, details of construction, and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

I will now proceed to describe a valve embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a view in central vertical section of a valve embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with certain parts in side elevation and showing also thermostatic means in place of the restricted by-pass for discharging air and closing against the discharge of steam.

The device comprises a casing 1, having an inlet 2 for connection with the radiator or other portion of a heating system, and a discharge 3, arranged for connection with an eX- hausting apparatus. The connection 2 opens directly into a chamber 4, inclosed by the easing 1, the said chamber 4 having a valve-seat 5 between it and the discharge 3. Avalve 6, carried by a float 7, engages the valve-seat 5 and normally closes same. The float 7 and valve 6 are rigidly connected together, being together mounted upon a hollow stem 8, having a longitudinal opening clear through from end to end. The upper end of the chamber 4 is bounded by a diaphragm 9, supported upon a shoulder 10 of the casingl and held in position by a hood or cap 11. cap is dished, so that a chamber 12 is formed between the upper face of the diaphragm 9 and the said hood or cap. The diaphragm 9 is centrally perforated and provided with a valve-seat 13. The valve 14 is fitted to the said seat, said valve being loosely mounted upon the stem 8. A light spring 15 tends to keep the valve 14 normally to its seat, and the stem 8 is arranged to pass freely through the valve, so that when the float 7 and valve 6 move up or down they impart no corresponding movements to the valve 14. There is a restricted opening or by-pass 16 between the chamber 4 and the chamber 12, such bypass being regulated by the screw 17 or con trolled by a thermostatic device 18, as shown in Fig.2.

The operation of the device is as follows: Suction taking place at connection 3, such suction will communicate through the hollow stem 8 to the chamber 12 and thence through the restricted-by-pass 16 to the radiator. If air is contained in the radiator, such air will be sucked out; but steam will be prevented from passing the said restricted by-pass either because the passage through the by-pass will be so restricted as to prevent steam passing or it will be closed by the thermostatic device in a manner well known. If a suflicient quantity of steam is not supplied to the radiator, the suction in chamber 12 will tend to lift the valve 14 against the closing pressure of the spring 15, so as to open a larger communication from the radiator to the pipe 3. WVater coming from the radiator will collect in the chamber 1 and will gradually lift the float 7 and valve 6, connected thereto, for discharging the water past the valve-seat 5 into the discharge 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a very simple valve for the purpose required. There are but few parts, and those unlikely to get out of order. The valves 6 and 14 operate entirely independently of each other, the valve 14 merely forming a guide for the stem 8, while at the same time it will be noticed that the valve 6 is practically balanced as to fluid-pressure, because there will always be substantially the same pressure in 3 as in the radiator, and hence in the chamber 4-this because if the pressure lowers in 3 much below that in 4 the valve 14 will open to balance same. As a This hood or I matter of construction it will also be seen that I have a very simple device in that upon unscrewing the cap 11 I can immediately obtain access to all the parts, the diaphragm being merely lifted from its position on the shoulder 10 and the valve 6 and float 7 rejoint around the diaphragm 9 when putting the parts together again. The usual or any desired packing will of course be employed around the periphery of the disk or diaphragm 9 to make same tight. I have further provided means for draining the float, as I have found in the past that water from condensation and other causes was apt to collect in the float, greatly increasing its weight. For this reason I have provided an opening or passage 19, leading from the interior of the hollow float through the hollow stem into the discharge. By'this means any moisture collecting in the float will be discharged through discharge.

hat I claim is-- 1. In a valve of the class described, the combination with a casing inclosing a chamber arranged to communicate with a radiator or the like, and having a discharge, of a floatvalve controlling communication between said chamber and the discharge. a second chamber in open communication with the discharge, a valve independent of the first said valve controlling communication between the second chamber and the first said chamber, and a restricted by-pass between the first and second said chambers.

2. In a valve of the class described, the combination with a casing inclosing a chamber arranged to communicate with a radiator or the like, and having a discharge, of a floatvalve controlling comm unication between said chamber and the discharge, a second chamber in open communication with the discharge, a valve independent of the first said valve controlling communication between the second chamber and the first said chamber, a by-pass between the first and second said chambers,

i l l l l l l l l l and thermostatic means restricting passage through the said by-pass.

3. In a valve of the class described, the combination with a casing inclosing a chamber arranged to communicate with a radiator or the like, and having a discharge, of a valve con trolling communication between said chamber and the discharge, a float connected to said valve, a second chamber, a hollow stem connected to said valve and afiording communication between said second chamber and the discharge, a valve loosely mounted upon said stem, controlling communication between the second chamber and the first said chamher, and a restricted by-pass between the first and second said chambers.

I. In a valve of the class described, the combination with a casing, a cap therefor, and a diaphragm retained in position by said cap, dividing the interior of the easing into two chambers, the lower chamber having an opening arranged to communicate with a radiator or the like, and having a discharge, of a floatvalve controllingcommunication between the lower chamber and the discharge, and an independent valve afl' ording communication between the two said chambers, the upper chamber arranged in open communication with the discharge.

5. In a valve of the class described, the combination with a casing 1. having an inlet 2, a discharge 3 and a valve-seat 5; a cap 11, and a dia 'ihragm 9 provided with a valve-seat 13, of a valve 6 fitted to said valve-seat 5, afloat 7, a hollow stem 8 connecting said valve 6 and float 7, and afl'ording open communication between a chamber 12 formed between the cap 11 and the diaphragm 9, a valve let fitted to the valve-seat 13 and loosely mounted on the stem 8, and a restricted by-pass 16, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of April, 1905.

ARTHUR MCGONAGLE. itnesses:

.D. HOWARD HAYwooD, L. S. ANDnnws, Jr. 

